Is it possible to replace the fiberglass liftgate with a steel liftgate?

 

I'm suprised nobody has answered this one yet as it would benefit all who have the pre "97" cherokee. I'm on my 3rd pre "97" cherokee and would greatly appreciate an answer on this subject. As we all know the fiberglass liftgate has a tendency to break around the locking mechanism.

 

X3!!!

 

I think the tail lamps are shaped differently on the 97 and later, a little more rounded at the top. So I'm not sure it will swap over perfectly or not.

 

Taillights are different and the 96 and earlier have external hinges and the 97 and later have internal hinges. The 97 and up also have a slightly curveyer body as well. Anything is possible but it would be a PITA and the body lines wouldn't line up.

 

anythings posible with time

 

wait what years have a steel lift gate? pre 97?

 

97 to 01 have a steel hatch.

 

o and the fiberglass ones are more square. i was gunna do the swap but the steal ones are to round and it would thro off the look a little. and it has a break light in the window that ud prob have to wire in. maybe u can take it out never looked that far into it. just it being rounded and not boxxy stoped me from doing it.

 

I appreciate this forum. That sucks that the swap wont work, but like someone said anything is possible, especially if you have access to a shop.

 

and $

 

I know this is older than all hell - but did you actually have the liftgate held up on the Jeep? from looking at two parked next to each they look like they would have the same footprint.

 

I didn't even realize the pre-97 XJ's didn't have steel liftgates. My 2000 has one and I just assumed they all did. Why would they go with fiberglass, weight savings? or just cheaper?

 

The 80's and 90's Ramchargers had glass hatches, too. They're good for weight savings and they don't rust. Probably cheap to make, too. Anyway...

The body of the XJ's are the same. The steel hatch will match up just fine with the older body, but you'll have to swap the taillights to the newer style, and the hinges will need to be figured out. It would probably be easier to drill the external, glass hatch hinges onto the top of the steel hatch. I'm not sure if they'll hold up to the additional weight, though. The curvier steel hatch means the hinges probably won't line up perfectly, either. The interior plastic probably won't match up with the older style, which could prevent it from closing properly.

In other words, it's not a direct swap. I could have sworn that I saw someone figure it out in a build thread a while ago, but I have no idea which forum it was on.

 

Gotcha! I am thinking about doing this. Getting the hatch and welding interior hinges to the body of the interior hinges, if I do I'll make a How-To in addition to it being in my build thread.